Latest Offenders Cumbria

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A DEVIOUS Workington man created a false online profile using photos of a woman he knew so he could have sexual contact with a schoolgirl.

Mark Adams, 39, made an attempt to persuade a '13-year-old girl' he was chatting to on a social media website to commit sexual acts, unaware that the person he was communicating with was actually an under-cover police officer, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

The defendant was jailed after he admitted four counts of sexually communicating with a child and one of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Damian Nolan, prosecuting, said Adams, of Rowe Terrace, Workington, fabricated a profile for a gay 21-year-old woman and used this on a dating website.

He was attempting to attract the attention of young girls, said the prosecutor.

The defendant engaged in sexual communication with a user, believing her to be a 13-year-old female, said Mr Nolan, pointing out that the police operative had made clear at an early stage that the person he was talking to was aged 13.

The two also exchanged telephone numbers. The communication between the defendant and the girl went on for four days in 2020 on February 4, 5, 6 and 7.

The defendant repeatedly requested indecent images of [the child] and also sent naked images and encouraged her to engage in sexual activity, said Mr Nolan.

On February 7, he made a more specific request for the girl to undress and engage in a sex act and then made two attempts to make WhatsApp phone calls to the child so he could listen to what she was doing.

Mr Nolan continued: Clearly, the defendant was wanting to drive the conversation from start to finish.

"Those conversations with her refer to [the girl] being in school uniform and on the way home from school.

But on each and every day the defendant requested sexualised activity, either the sending of images or [the child] to perform sex acts on herself.

The court heard that the woman whose photo Adams had used in his fake profile knew nothing about it and was left deeply distressed when police told her what Adams had done.

Throughout three police interviews, Adams denied any wrongdoing.

He suggested somebody may have accessed his online profile to commit the offence.

Anthony Parkinson, defending, said Adams was assessed as posing a low risk" of reconviction and a medium risk of causing serious harm in the future. There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation," said the barrister.

He said Adams advanced hopeless theories to explain what he did are a result of his shame and embarrassment.

The barrister added: These offences took place almost two years ago and since his arrest hes had to leave his family home and he and his partner are in a strained relationship. He is living in privately rented accommodation and has inevitably suffered that this type of offence brings with it and a loss of employment.

Judge Nicholas Barker that until this offence the defendant lived a crime-free life and was in continuous employment. But he had set up the fake profile in order to engage sexually with other people, said the judge.

You set up a profile which presented yourself as a 21-year-old female who was gay and was interested in meeting young girls.

It was abundantly clear his communication with the 13-year-old was highly sexualised, highly determined, persistent, demanding and controlling, despite him quickly having learned that she 13.

The judge jailed Adams for 27 months, saying only immediate custody was appropriate given the determined nature of the offences and the deceit involved.

The defendants name will be on the Sex Offender Register for a decade and he was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which forbids him from having any unsupervised access to girls aged under 16.

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Paul Shakespeare 66 and of Scaleby Close, Upperby in Carlisle appeared at Gloucester Crown Court to be sentenced for one count of rape and one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

A pensioner has been jailed for raping a teenage dog walker more than 30 years ago after a DNA breakthrough.

Predatory Paul Shakespeare, 66, was told by a judge he faced a "belated day of reckoning" as he was locked up for nine years for attacking the then 18-year-old woman.

The court heard he targeted his victim as she strolled with her pooch on Cheltenham's Honeybourne Line, in April 1990.

The teen had been walking along a public footpath when she was approached by the stranger who threatened her with a wooden stick adapted with a protruded nail.

She was then dragged her the bushes and subjected to a "terrifying" rape while in a "paralysis" of fear, the court heard.

Shakespeare then threatened to kill the victim if she reported him and fled the scene.

Full DNA was recovered but despite numerous public appeals, including a Crimewatch reconstruction in 2008, he continued to evade justice for decades.

The victim told the court today that her life was never the same after the attack and she even attempted suicide with an overdose to erase the pain she carried forward.

She said that "It was the most scared I have ever been. I did not know if I would live or die."

But she was finally able to see her attacker face justice after Shakespeare was arrested for a separate incident in August last year and a subsequent DNA sample provided a match.

He initially tried to claim the sex was consensual but pleaded guilty to one count of rape and another of possession of an offensive weapon before the case came to trial.

"A belated reckoning"

Jailing him today at Gloucester Crown Court, Judge Michael Cullum said: "Today is a belated reckoning - some 30 years later.

"Any young woman would be traumatised for life by what you did.

"I am so relieved this day has finally come for the victim. Thirty years she has been denied justice and lived daily with the nightmare that you inflicted on her.

"That nightmare of course does not end with the sentence.

"She knew that this day would come and her remarkable faith in the system of criminal justice has been borne out. At least she and all women will be safe for you for a considerable period of time."

The court heard the defendant had a sharpened stick with a nail driven through it that he used as an adapted weapon and had 'eyed up' several women in the area before choosing a victim to rape.

"You know you are a rapist"

Judge Cullum added: "You were walking around waiting for a victim.

"This was planned. When you found your victim, you threatened and frightened her into the paralysis of compliance.

"You then twisted the situation and said she had waited for you.

"She would surely doubt and question her own actions - over which she would have had no control and no choice at the time.

The judge added that the victim was "stripped of her clothing and dignity" and told Shakespeare: "You embarked upon an attack that had nothing to do with consent - but everything to do with your physical power over her."

The judge added: "She was raped while walking a dog with people around and in daylight.

"Fortunately your physical limitations now mean people are going to be protected from you.

"This was not anything like consensual and as a result of your actions your victim tried to end her own life.

"That day you went out to rape. You did rape and you know you are a rapist."

"I had to pretend to myself it did not happen"

In a statement, the victim said she relived the trauma daily and would never be able to "forgive or forget."

She added: "I felt embarrassed, violated and dirty and did not want to share this with anyone.

"To cope I had to pretend to myself it did not happen and I did not share my dark secret.

"Each day I lived in fear and was fearful of my personal safety. I lost all confidence and had some very dark moments. I suffered nightmares and panic attacks for at least a year after the incident.

"Every night when I went to sleep I relived that night."

The victim said she also tried to take her own life with an overdose and hit "rock bottom".

She said she spent her life putting up barriers and felt like she was "broken and damaged goods".

"It does not get easier," she added. "Still after time had passed I felt dirty and unworthy and thought about what happened every day.

She said she relived her "intrusive" trauma by taking part in Crimewatch in 2008 but the appeal yielded no results.

But last year she received a knock on the door telling her her rapist had finally been identified.

She added: "I honestly don't know how I felt. Being raped will haunt me for the rest of my life. It was the most scared I have ever been. I did not know if I would live or die. I was petrified wondering if this man is going to kill me.

"I can not ever forgive and certainly can never forget. If I could take something to erase my memory I would. I know what happened made me a different person and stopped me being the person I want to be.

"Finally admitting what he has done does not take away the devastating impact for years of evading arrest. He never came forward and left me broken and unable to cope for many years.

"I hope he hears this statement and understands what his actions did for me. I only hope he is remorseful, to not just me but to his family."

"A deeply horrifying incident"

Shakespeare, of Carlisle, appeared via video link today and told he would serve at least two thirds of his sentence but would remain on the sex offenders register for life.

His defence team said he had "started to show remorse" for what he did and deserved credit for pleading guilty and avoiding the need for a trial.

Officer in the case, Detective Constable Simone Bowley said: "I would like to commend the victim as her bravery and courage has been phenomenal right from the day this horrific crime took place, through to present day.

"She has had to wait for more than 30 years for Shakespeare to admit his abhorrent crimes. The case has been reopened and reviewed over this time, and she has continued to work with us in the hope that one day he will be caught and brought to justice.

"This was a deeply horrifying incident which happened to a teenage girl who was walking her dog on a late Sunday afternoon. The impact of this crime was felt within the wider community too, as people were fearful of what took place day.

"We all had hope that we would be able to identify the man responsible for this, and I am glad that day has finally come."

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A WEST Cumbria man must sign the sex offenders register with immediate effect after admitting a raft of crimes against a person he thought was aged only 13.

William Beech, 51, faced a total of 13 charges when he appeared in front of a judge at Carlisle Crown Court.

During a short hearing, Beech pleaded guilty to 12 of those.

Three of the offences he admitted concern attempts to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. Four involve attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child; three are attempts to cause a child to watch a sexual act; one was attempting to communicate sexually with a child; and he also admitted making indecent category C photographs of a child.

Beechs crimes were committed on a number of different days around the turn of November last year.

They are said to involve communication with a vigilante group decoy the defendant thought was a 13-year-old girl.

Judge Nicholas Barker adjourned the case and ordered the preparation of a probation service pre-sentence report which will give background on the defendant and his offending.

Beech is due to be sentenced at the crown court on February 4, and must sign the sex offenders register in the meantime.

The precise duration of those requirements will be determined on that date, said the judge.

Beech was granted bail on condition that he both lives at Hilton Terrace in Whitehaven, and has no unsupervised contact with any person aged under 18.

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A CONVICTED sex offender used specialist software to turn his phone 'incognito' and downloaded illegal images of children.

Carlisle Crown Court heard of Lloyd James Christopher Ditchburns disturbing past as he was sentenced on Tuesday for fresh offences.

In 2014 as a juvenile, Ditchburn was punished for distributing indecent images of youngsters.

Then, in 2020, came a conviction for making more perverted pictures and outraging public decency as he committed a crime known as 'up-skirting'.

On September 1, 2021, there was a routine meeting between him, his probation officer and a detective constable tasked with risk monitoring, prosecutor Brendan Burke said of the latest crimes.

The officer asked him for his phone, opened it and it immediately became clear he was running incognito software.

This was in breach of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) imposed for past crimes.

So, too, was 24-year-old Ditchburns use of social media specifically a platform used by children as it had no age requirements.

Initially in interview, he spoke of 'accidentally' switching on the incognito mode. He then started making very full admissions, said Mr Burke. He said police monitoring software on his phone had crashed.

That gave him the confidence, effectively, to start doing what he wanted, including installing the incognito software.

The police monitoring software reactivated itself but he found a way to disable it. He went on to say he was using it to access the (social media) platform, in particular a group called schoolgirls 12 to 18.

He further admitted distribution and exchange of images, added Mr Burke. He ended the interview by saying that he needed serious help.

Ditchburn, of Vulcans Lane, Workington, had further downloaded two indecent images of children classed in category A the most serious and eight in category C. He admitted two SHPO breaches and making the illegal pictures.

Anthony Parkinson, defending, said Ditchburn had been in custody since September but hadnt begun rehabilitation work due to the pandemic. He was willing to engage.

But Judge Nicholas Barker noted that previous offers of help had not been taken, and jailed him for 32 months. It is clear to me that you have an underlying and deeply unhealthy attitude to children as objects of sexual desire, said the judge.

Ditchburn must now sign the sex offenders register for life.

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A convicted sex offender who went illegally off the radar for a month has been handed a lengthy jail term for his 12th breach of a court order.

Mark King, now 49, was made subject to sex offender registration requirements by a judge in 2012. That was part of his punishment for an offence of exposure. It means that upon his release from any prison sentence, until February 2022, King must declare a fixed address; or, if homeless, must notify police of that fact within a specified time.

But in recent years, homeless King has committed a host of breaches in different areas of the UK and received jail terms which have increased in length.

In 2018, King was jailed for a breach that came to light after he was found sleeping rough in a Penrith park. The following year he was handed a 28-month sentence in the Midlands. And at Carlisle Crown Court today he was imprisoned again for a breach that occurred after contact was lost with him during October.

He was released from police custody in relation to a seven-day remand for theft and breach of order, prosecutor Tim Evans told the court. He was given 50. He indicated he was going to travel to Birmingham. He didnt in fact get there. In effect, he simply slipped off the radar until the end of October when he was arrested.

King admitted flouting notification requirements and was sentenced by Judge Simon Medland QC, who noted it was his 12th such breach in less than a decade.

Judge Medland jailed King for 30 months, seeing no alternative to a lengthy prison term and telling the defendant: It just doesnt seem to get through to you that the courts must take this seriously.

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A 'DESPICABLE' man who sexually assaulted his female victim in an alleyway has been jailed.

Nathan McPoland was sentenced to two years and three months in prison after admitting carrying out the attack between Cavendish Street and Slater Street in Barrow during the early hours of March 9, 2019.

Despite pleading guilty at the Crown Court, McPoland had denied the assault or being in the town centre at all when interviewed by police.

The 23-year-old’s actions have been labelled ‘despicable’ by Hindpool councillor Joanne Tyson.

Cllr Tyson has also praised the victim for speaking out and reporting McPoland to the police.

Cllr Tyson said: “I was disgusted by the sentence given for such a serious crime against this poor woman. She was very brave to come forward and report the crime, and follow through with the process to get this man off the street.

“It was despicable that McPoland initially denied the crime which must have added to the woman’s distress.

“I am glad he has been jailed and I give thanks to the Police for securing the conviction but the sentence is not long enough for something so serious.”

Detective constable Matthew McFall, of Cumbria Crime and Safeguarding team, thanked the victim for coming forward.

He said: “I would like to publicly thank the complainant for coming forward to report this matter to the Police.

“I have no doubt her actions have helped safeguard others.”

McPoland will now also be subject of the sexual offenders’ notification requirements and a restraining order for a period of 10 years.

Cumbria PCC Peter McCall said he was disgusted by McPoland’s crime and hopes his punishment will bring closure to the victim.

Mr McCall said: “I think any type of sexual assault is an appalling crime.

“This sort of sentence should send out a message that sexual assault is unacceptable.

“I am pleased to see a significant sentence for this crime, which I hope brings some sort of closure to the victim.

“I hope that anyone who suffers from sexual assault will come forward to the police as they will take any matter seriously, as shown by the sentencing of this man.”

Mayor of Barrow Cllr Helen Wall said: “It is a deeply unpleasant and upsetting thing to happen to someone – it is very distressing.

“It is not what we want happening in the town and I hope other people will realise it is a criminal offence and you will end up in jail if you do commit sexual assault.

“I am glad that the woman was listened to and police investigated the offence.”

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A MAN has admitted making nearly 100 indecent images of children

Michael Swidenbank was said to have made 93 indecent images between October 15 2017 and July 9 2020.

The 60-year-old, of Lawson Street in Barrow, admitted three charges related to the images, alleged to have been made in Kendal.

They include seven of the most serious category A photos.

The defendant was convicted of the offences when he appeared in front of South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.

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A WOMAN has been jailed for almost three years after admitting child sex offences.

Sophie Hindmarch (27) of Penrith was sentenced on April 9 at Carlisle Crown Court for nine counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13 to 15.

The incidents related to incidents that took place in Penrith in late 2019. Hindmarch pleaded guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing in March.

She was jailed for two years and nine months and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Emma Armstrong of Cumbria Police encouraged any other victims of similar offences to come forward.

She said: "Hindmarch initially denied the offences in interview before pleading guilty at court. She was aware that what she was doing was wrong, telling the victim to delete messages between them.

I would urge anyone who has been subject to offences of this nature to come forward, you will be believed and any report will be dealt with professionally and sensitively.

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A KENDAL man is due be sentenced by a judge next month after he admitted making hundreds of indecent images of children.

Robert James Lewthwaite, 24, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court earlier today (FRI).

Lewthwaite pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children between early July, 2017, and May 7 last year. The court heard the charges covered 66 images classed in category A the most serious; 146 in category B; and 639 with a category C classification.

In addition, Lewthwaite, of Low Kirkbarrow Lane, Kendal, admitted taking an indecent category A photograph of a child a video depicting a sexual act on July 5 of 2017.

David Traynor, defending, said in a brief address to Judge Peter Davies: He is 24 years of age, has no previous convictions and I would ask for you to adjourn for a pre-sentence report.

Judge Davies agreed. Lewthwaite was granted bail and is due to return to the crown court in early February for a sentencing hearing in front of Judge James Adkin.

Just because I am bailing you it doesnt mean the sort of sentence you will get thats up to James Adkin, said Judge Davies.

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A child rapist has been handed a 14-year prison sentence.

Simon Peter Turnbull, 44, received his punishment at Carlisle Crown Court today for crimes committed last year against a victim aged under 13.

At a previous hearing, Turnbull, of Fairhill Road, Penrith, had admitted one child rape and a second "multiple incident" charge.

Prosecutor Tim Evans told the court Turnbull's victim was so upset during a police interview that they could not speak at times, having to write things down in a notebook. The child did say of Turnbull: "I hate him."

When arrested, Turnbull initially reacted by saying: "What, really?" He later admitted raping the child multiple times when quizzed by police for a second time, but was said by a probation officer to have shown an "alarming lack of victim empathy".

Shaven-headed Turnbull showed little emotion while sitting, arms folded, in the court dock as facts of his offending were outlined to Judge Peter Davies.

A number of deeply moving impact statements were read to court which detailed the profound effects on the victim's family.

Jailing Turnbull, a man with no previous convictions, Judge Davies said he was guilty of a "persistent course of conduct committed for your own sexual gratification". This had, the judge observed, "left a wake of devastation".

Turnbull must sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely, and abide by the strict terms of a sexual harm prevention order.

He must serve at least half of the 14-year term in custody, and will only be considered for release when a parole board deems him suitable.

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A married father-of-one was snared by 'paedophile hunters' after attempting to meet a 13-year-old girl - while his daughter and wife were in a hospital just minutes away.

Brian Turnbull was confronted by members of the online vigilante group Dark Justice, after travelling from Cumbria to Newcastle to meet the underage girl.

Turnbull and his wife had made the 80-mile drive with their daughter for an appointment at the skin graft clinic at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

But as the women waited in the hospital he went to the nearby Exhibition Park to meet the underage girl for 'kissing and cuddling'.

The 60-year-old, who described his wife as 'the worst luck', had been chatting to the fake girl on the dating app Whatsapp - telling her she was gorgeous and sending explicit pictures of himself.

He also told the decoy girl his wife was 'a pain in the a**e.

'Winging n wining all the time.' (SIC) But after being accosted by Dark Justice, he told them he 'wouldn't have classed his behaviour as sexual grooming' and said that it was 'just a laugh'.

He was arrested and admitted inciting a child in sexual activity.

A member of Dark Justice said: 'This was a weird case in total. He was coming to Newcastle with his wife and daughter so she could go to the skin graft clinic at the RVI.

'While she was in there he wanted to meet this child. It baffles your mind, the lengths these people will go to to groom children.

'He was arrested within 10 minutes of the mother and daughter going for their treatment.

'I think afterwards they went back to Cumbria and just left him here.

'He said that he was getting a divorce and that his wife would leave him after this.

'He is one of the older ones we have caught.'

At Carlisle Crown Court, Turnbull, of Aspatria, Wigton, was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete a 30 day rehabilitation requirement and must sign the sex offenders register for seven years

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A MAN has been handed a six-year prison sentence for engaging in sexual activity with a teenage girl.

Billy Charles Ward, 28, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court today for offending against a victim aged in her early teens.

At a previous court hearing Ward had admitted five charges of sexual activity with a child. He wept in the court dock this afternoon as details of his criminal conduct were outlined.

In a letter outlining the effect of his illegal activity, the victim wrote: "I can't say how I will feel about this in the future. Right now I just want it to be over."

Ward was said by his lawyer to have shown "palpable remorse both for what he has done and the impact he has caused".

Sending him to prison, Judge Barbara Forrester told him he was guilty of "total selfish exploitation" of the girl.

Ward, of Serpentine Road, Kendal, must sign the sex offenders' register and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order - both indefinitely. His case will also be reported to the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

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A teenager has been locked up after trying to have sex with a dog.

It was one of a number of sex offences - including possessing indecent images of children and inciting young teenage girls to commit sexual acts - which 18-year-old Joshua Clarke admitted.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how he incited two American-based girls, aged 13 and 14, to engage in lewd illegal acts over the internet.

Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson said police became aware of images uploaded to the internet which were traced to Clarke's email address.

"Officers attended his home address and there they arrested Mr Clarke. They seized a number of electronic devices," said Mr Rogerson.

Forensic analysis of the devices revealed "graphic sexualised exchanges" with the two girls.

Scores of illegal still and moving images of children had also been created over a three-year period. Some were classed in category A, the most serious, and featured youngsters aged just three.

Clarke also admitted he had "repeatedly tried to have sexual intercourse with his dog".

Mr Rogerson said: "It appeared he had not been successful in that the dog had managed to successfully defend itself."

Mark Shepherd, defending, offered what he described as "significant personal mitigation" during a detailed address to Judge James Adkin.

Since the teen's arrest, his supportive family had tried to understand what had gone "so wrong" for him.

"Joshua Clarke went from being somebody who was this happy, bright, bubbly boy to suddenly becoming sullen, withdrawn and socially isolated," said Mr Shepherd.

As a result of bullying, he "withdrew himself and sought solace in the online community".

Clarke had since requested professional help, and Mr Shepherd suggested it would be "perfectly safe" for the teen to be managed in the community.

Clarke, of Macadam Way, Penrith, was sentenced having admitted two charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; two of causing a child to watch a sexual act; possessing an extreme pornographic image; distributing indecent images of children; and attempting to have intercourse with a dog. He also admitted making indecent still and moving images of youngsters.

He was sent to a young offenders' institution for two years by Judge Adkin, who concluded: "This offending is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified."

Clarke must sign the sex offenders' register and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order - both for 10 years - and will be reported to the safeguarding authorities.

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A MAN has been given a four-and-a-half year jail term for engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Daniel Lee Coleman, 30, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court today.

Coleman had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child aged under 16.

He committed the offences in late 2013 and early 2014.

Judge Peter Hughes QC handed down the prison sentence to Coleman, of Rydal Street, Carlisle.

He is now also subject to the terms of a sexual harm prevention order and has been placed on the sex offenders' register, for an indefinite period.

Coleman's case will also be reported to the independent safeguarding authorities.

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A man who kidnapped four girls in the 1980s and 1990s was caught by 30-year-old DNA evidence, a court has heard.

David Bryant, 65, of Ulverston, had previously denied four charges of kidnap and four of indecent assault, but later changed his pleas.

The children, aged between two and five, were taken in Hampshire in 1982 and 1983, and in Newcastle in 1995.

Bryant will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on 16 March.

Mark Giuliani, prosecuting, said: "A familiar feature of this offending is how the defendant targeted young girls out playing near their homes.

"Children have been effectively robbed of part of their childhood."

Bryant's first victim was a five-year-old girl who was playing outside her home in the street in Hampshire in 1982.

The court heard how her mother had gone into the house to get children's drinks when the girl was taken.

She was found nearby a short time later. Bryant had committed a sex act, leaving DNA on the child, which was used by detectives decades later, the court heard.

The following year, a three-year-old was kidnapped as she played with other children in Southampton.

Bryant had offered to show her some puppies, took her to woods and sexually abused her.

Speaking as an adult, she said: "When I hear an ice cream van playing its music I am left with chills all over my body.

"I am left remembering what happened to me at a very young age."

'Partially clothed'

His third victim was taken from outside her home in Newcastle in the 1990s and found wandering, partially clothed, by a taxi driver in Darlington, 36 miles away.

Later that year a four-year-old, from Newcastle's west end, was abducted as she walked 30 yards to a friend's house.

Bryant admitted he took her to a caravan in Cumbria, abused her then bathed her to get rid of DNA evidence.

He abandoned her on her own in Darlington the next day where she knocked on woman's door and said: "I cannot find my daddy."

Mr Giuliani said Hampshire Police began a cold case review of the sex attacks and through DNA advances tracked down Bryant, having eliminated three of his male relatives from their inquiries.

Bryant, of Rock Cottages, Baycliff, Ulverston, has three previous sex offence convictions on women committed between 1975 and 1984, Mr Giuliani said.